Hands-on with the Boxee Box
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted January 5th 2010 7:30PM
posted January 5th 2010 7:30PM
posted January 5th 2010 7:30PM
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Although it's suprisingly small, I don't think it would blend in well with my entertainment setup.
The remote looks nice.
Come on 4chan, no real Boxee comments!
Worst opening sentence grammar EVER. Seriously guys, proofread just a tad por favor.
@Colin B lighten up man, it's CES. These guys are running a mile per minute. Gotta love the arrogant self-entitled internet trolls that come out to waste space with their comments holier than thou comments.
That is the funkiest gadget I've seen in quite a while.
What's up with that little green USB? havent seen that in a pic yet, and boxee.tv says only two usb ports (theyre on the back)
@cswright
hmm now that you mention it, it sure does look like a USB port. Probably is too, not that adding a 3rd USB port is revolutionary but it's nice to have a front(ish) facing port.
@cswright Yea theres 3 USB's total. I think they added that front one so that complaining people (about no IR) can grab a mini 5$ IR dongle to use their precious (outdated) Universal Remotes. Or maybe it can just pop in and out.
I dig the remote. Nice use of the empty back
@EGOvoruhk I dig the remote too. This is an awesome idea, why didn't anyone think of that before?
@EGOvoruhk agreed on the remote. Wish Logitech would integrate QWERTY with the Harmony line instead of the over-rated DiNovo Mini. I'd love to see a slide out QWERTY on the Harmony One, even if it had to have a separate dongle using BT or 2.4GHz wireless.
Maybe Boxee will find another market for the remote alone - please!
@EGOvoruhk
Yeah, great remote!
Also looks like it got an additional USB-port on the front (in the "lifted" green corner) if you compare to the render: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/boxee-box-officially-announced-under-200-flash-10-1-support/
@Nerdtalker
Oh, people have thought of it. It's just that gadget makers are lazy and don't like to try new things. Kudos to Boxee for thinking outside the... er... box.
If any other hardware manufacturers want to man up and produce a PROPER HTPC remote, there are several good designs here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1196532
I hope this comes out soon! Can't wait.
The double-sided remote is funky, but a nifty idea. I just hope I don't accidentally hit keyboard keys with my knuckes while using the other side.
@Bassam There should be an accelerometer in the remote that would enable or disable either side.
@someone If that's true, it would be quite impressive.
Still, I doubt they'd put an accelerometer in a remote control just to disable the inactive side. More likely they'll just make the keys relatively hard to press, so you don't press them by accident.
@someone
don't need an accelerometer, don't know why you'd think something like that is needed. all that is needed it a little gravity switch. then it could tell which side is up.
@pballinuyasha But what if I'm laying down, and want to use the keyboard in an upside-down position?
I don't think the remote needs any fancy sensors, as long as the buttons aren't too hard to press, and the directional pad isn't touch sensitive.
@Bassam Hold your arm out to the side, you can still orientate it upright while you remain on the couch.
I think a sensor would be a good idea. Perhaps while holding it you wouldn't accidentally press anything but I imagine if you place it a bit too hard onto a coffee table or press down on the table as you go to pick it up that then buttons would easily be pressed given the table won't provide the same cushioning effect your hand does.
They need to account for people holding remotes differently too...some may rest it in their hands while others may rest it more on their finger tips as if their hand was clawed or whatever. Hell some people may not hold the remote at all and press down on it as it sits on an arm wrest to use it.
@Bassam Maybe the keyboard will only work when a text-entry field is selected.
@coasterswim
Give that man a cigar!
Wii could sure use that
Looks great I cant wait
I'm so buying this thing
How the hell is that supposed to fit under my tv, or on any entertainment center rack?
The heck if Boxee thinking?
@(Unverified) Under your TV? Your TV would crush the little box. On an entertainment center? Just place it on a shelf. If you insist on stacking a larger device on top of it, just get a free-standing shelf to put over the Box. Problem solved.
Think about it for a second. If the Box had all its angles aligned with plumb and level, would it really make much difference? It's a tiny box, for which there is no standard form factor. Should they have made it 17" wide and 10" deep with lots of empty space inside? That would be quite a waste of space & material.
@(Unverified) it's small enough that it can be put beside any number of components, but personally, I'd be proud to put it on top, if I didn't already have Boxee beta running on an ASRock ION 330.
@(Unverified)
Most equipment failure is due to people stacking multiple heat generating devices in a small enclosed space where the heat cannot dissipate. With a non-standard shape this forces you to put it where it will have room to breath and viola...fewer hardware failure calls. (in theory)
@ArhcAngel +1 A company that I won't mention by name installed a theater at my parents' house, which included a DVD changer, 2 receivers, a blu-ray, a Control4 system, and a cable box all put into an enclosed shelf system with no side or rear ventilation. The DVD player is now on the fritz, Control4 has never worked (it's a POS concept from the get go...) and I swear you could cook eggs on some of the devices. The back of the cabinet is in a utility closet, which could easily have been made to ventilate and cool all of the equipment. Not to mention make it easier to replace stuff when it's outdated...
I guess no word on youtube compatibility means no youtube compatibility.... or can someone confirm youtube support and thereby make me happy?
@bernardos70 Yep. They have had a YouTube app since the early alpha.
@Microbreak Then it is looking good! I did just download the PC app and it does have everything I want in a box like this. This might move my WDTV Live and its admittedly ugly but functional interface to my bedroom, and take its place in the living room.
Haven't been following this at all. Is there 1080P support?
@GeneralMills
Yes, so long as the content you are displaying is in 1080p.
@GeneralMills is that dave days in your avatar?
I don't think there's any way I could not get this...
Very tempted here. I want it!
What moron would want to balance a DVD Player or other component on top of this device? Does anyone have their PS3 or 360 sitting on top of their WDTV or Popcorn hour? Obviously Dlink designed it this way to protect it from all the idiots that are complaining they can't stack anything on top of it.
I'll be buying one for sure; I also hope they sell the remote and a usb dongle that I can add to my Boxee PC's.
@dslate The problem is that every gizmo manufacturer is doing the same thing. Designing a box that is not friendly to stacking. A/V equipment has traditionally been stacked, and will continue to be. Server racks are the width they are based on the precedent set by A/V gear and A/V racks. There have been standards in place for decades. This flies in the face of those standards and I think folks have every right to whine about it. I like to play with A/V toys computers and Media PCs, and I can say that I was intrigued by the Boxee appliance until the moment I saw the ridiculous design. If they are willing to dismiss all the functionality of a stackable box for a gimmicky shape, what else are they going to compromise on to appear cool.
I also think the PS3 is lame for the lack of stackability. The XBOX360 gets off with a stern warning, since it is actually stackable depending on the size of the gizmo you would place on it.
@dslate I doubt it was a design decision influenced by a desire not to make it stack-able. It was probably purely a marketing move to make it stand out.
@Smigit I agree. I still don't see how the popcorn hour, wii, wdtv or any of the new media players hitting the market are more stackable. What is someone going to stack on a wdtv? I don't think these devices are designed to support other devices or cool efficiently with people treating them like legos. Is everyone out of shelf space? Doesn't something have to be on top anyway? Why can't it be this device? Problem solved.
@RandomGuy So any device that isn't spec'd to fit in a rack is crap?
I just think any complaining doesn't make logical sense when it if it were shaped like the wdtv it would be no more stackable.
@dslate Yeah I agree somewhat. Devices that are stackable to me seem to traditionally have come as a package even if it was using multiple components. DVD players ect all are different size and shapes so there has always been some problem anyway. I doubt too many people have that many components that it matters and if they do they could have shelled out for a horizontal unit rather than one with a lot of vertical room.
That said, I think a flat top would still be better. Better use of space and no loss of function. It won't look distinct but I can live without that.
I just want the remote! Hope they sell them separately, but I doubt they will. It would be great to use with remote buddy on my media center setup.
@BobbyDigital I agree, I am digging the remote. Make something like that bluetooth, and I am all over it.
@RandomGuy Logitech DiNovo Mini, though it's outrageously overpriced, and the navpad is kind of weak.
SQUIRCLE!
who is ben drawbaugh? haven't seen him on this site before. new writer?
@AndroidRokz
I've actually been writing for Engadget HD for years.
@BenD oh, HD.. that explains why i never have seen you before. im more into mobile, no offense